This week has been a bummer in several different ways but the final blow was finally identifying that what I suspected was daylily rust was indeed the problem (the spore stage has arrived). I'm been trying to rack my brain over how it could have spread so rapidly through flowerbeds on all sides of the house in one year. Between a wet spring and very humid summer, conditions have been ideal for fungal diseases. We've also had a lot of wind. The one thing I've considered that might be a method of spread is cats. We have six cats that love to play in the daylily beds, then move around the house and play in others. I can imagine spores on their coats hitching a ride from bed to bed.
Anyway, I've read plenty of material on rust. I've noticed some cultivars don't seem to be effected even with decimated plants right next to them so I need to start making note of them. I'm waiting for the dormant plants to die back and then will probably cut down all the diseased foliage and burn it, as well as all the dead foliage on the ground and the pine mulch (can replace with leaf mulch or pine straw). I know that there are some high priced fungicides that are supposed to be pretty good but I don't have that kind of money. Has anyone had much success with fungicides such as Mancozeb (Dithane) and Daconil? Since the fungus is at the spore stage, should I be spraying the plants now, even though the weather is in the 40s? I've also read that a solution of regular Dawn dishwashing liquid and water can be sprayed on plants with active rust as a contact kill. Anyone used that approach and again, should this be done in cool/cold weather? I've read that after that a systemic fungicide needs to be used and saw one of the Bayer 3-in-1 drench can be used on daylilies to treat rush but I would think that would be saved for the spring. Anyone have any feedback using this or can recommend some other systemic that I don't need to take out a bank loan
I appreciate any feedback. I have read quite a bit but would actually like to hear from people with experience in treating rust outbreak in their daylilies. Happy holidays everyone!
